News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-07-14
PROF. REUB. FIELDS.
MissOuri's Mathematical Prodigy
and His Wonderful Work.

One of the most wonderful men of
this day is living a few miles south of
Higginsville, Mo. He is known every
where as Prof. Reuben Fields, and
probably the only man in the country
who travels free on railroads and never
has pass, and don't bother about the
long and short haul clause. Prof. Fields
Is undoubtedly mathematical wonder.
He has no education whatever, does not
know single letter of the alphabet. nor
his own name if printed in sixteen-line
plcn wood type, bold face. Nor does he
know one figure from another. though
he will solve any problem in mathemat-
les given him. The Professor called at
the office of the Globe Dem0cras cores.
pondent to-day and entertained him and
his friends for some time. He never
carries watch, but when asked what
time of day he promptly answered four
teen minutes and thirty-four seconds
after 3. Though four watches varied
slightly as to the seconds, the minutes
! wore M TTrht WHOM asked ON what
day ot the week the Z5l day OF Noyem-
Der, 1861, came, he answered, "Satur-
| day" He answered this and a number
of similar questions without moments
hesitation. To the question: "What
Will thirty-nine pounds of sugar at ID
cents pound amount to 2'' He prompt
ly answered, $5.07, and before those who
were figuring with him could get the
| question on paper.
The question: "What will nineteen
and a half yards of calico at six and
quickly answered-$I.31S. These were
10 l.,
asked for something hard.
The following was given him:
'lf run twenty-seven yards in one
minute, how long will it take to run six
miles!" With very little study came
the answer-391 1-9 minutes, or hours,
81 1-9 minutes.
These problems seemed not to puzzle
him, as the answers came as soon as the
questions were asked. On the following,
however, he required a little study,
owing, as he said, to the noise about
him. The question was: ''From here
to Louisiana, Mo-, it is 159 miles; how
many revolutions does the driving
wheel of an engine, Is feet in circumfer-
ence, make in run from this place to
louisiana"
The Professor studied a little, mutter-
ing strings of figures, ''Milliols,
billions, trillions, quadrillions, 352 to
the mile-53, 988 revolutions" came the
answer before the calculators found out
how many revolutions it made to the
mile. The figures ''734" were written
on paper aud shown him. He did not
know what they were, and, in fact, he is
ignorant on any other subject than
mathematics. and then the question
must be asked verbally. He is 36 years
of age, and was born in Kentucky. He
claims that his gift was given from
heaven, and says that it came to him
suddenly when s years old. He says
the Lord made but one Samson, one
Solomon, and one Reub. Fields. To
the one he gave strength, to the other
wisdom, and to himself mathematical
instinct. He guards this instinct with
| the utmost care, and will not answer
questions unless he is paid, fearing that
it will be taken from him should he use
it to satisfy idle curiosity. He also was
given the following:
"a has a certain sum of money; he
| goes to a theatre and pays 81 admission
! spends half of what he has left, and
pays 81 to get out; he goes to a second
theatre and pays 81 admission, spends
half he has left, and pays 81 to get out:
he goes to third theatre, pays 81 adj
mission, spends half of what he has left,
and then pays his last dollar to get out;
how much had he when he started!"
While one OF two of those present
commenced to scratch up half-forgotten
algebra, the professor was soaring
among the "millions, billions, trillions,
quadrilIions, and then suddenly drop.
ped down to $21 before the algebraicaI
calculators got their paper ready to com,
mence. Before the professor left each
one present knew the day of the week
each one was born on. The professor
accepted a dollar with thanks, and
promised another call tomorrow.